The US has long been ignorant of one of the arts of war: to know your enemy. 

President Diem and his successors were threatened by northern aggression rather than a southern reaction to their corruption and oppression.

And the 2003 Iraq invasion was based on the false premise that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction he intended to use on the west.

Now, the US is teetering on the edge of yet another murderous attack, based on the seemingly false premise that North Korea has developed nuclear weapons in order to launch a first strike on the US. 

For the evidence is that North Korea is not suicidal, rather that it believes nuclear weapons are the only effective defence it has following decades of US threats and hostility. 

Of course, concern about the facts, or human suffering outside US borders for that matter, has never been a US priority, especially now under Trump.

The priority is scaring allies into buying US arms, an electorate that is distracted from repressive domestic policies (and a flaky president), and enhanced US power and investment opportunities. 

And, in Australia's case, as always in relation to the US, ours is not to question why, ours is just to do and die. 

A climate policy that does not address all climate change causes, is no climate policy.

The Commonwealth Bank Australia has just released its climate policy. There isn’t a single mention of coal or other fossil fuels. The bank will continue to invest its customers’ money in dirty coal. The science is clear, if mankind/our planet is supposed to have a chance of survival, all remaining fossil fuels must stay in the ground.

CBA recently ruled out funding Adani’s Carmichael coal mine, which means it acknowledges the problem. But ruling out funding one mine while funding others isn’t enough.  Australia’s dirtiest bank is still funding coal, killing the Great Barrier Reef and promoting climate change.

Fourteen other banks around the world have already ruled out funding new coal projects. All banks failing to acknowledge and act on climate change risks should be taken to court.

For the future of our children and grandchildren, we need to change to renewables. A  combination of solar, wind, wave, hydro-energy and methane collection.

On behalf of OzHarvest Sapphire Coast I would like to publicly thank Jess Ryan and the Sapphire Coast Turf Club for organising a food collection as part of their Christmas in July/Eden Cup events.

Over 110kg of delicious food was donated at the seventeen collection points in Eden, Pambula, Merimbula and Bega. The generosity of donors, of businesses willing to be collection points, and of the Sapphire Coast Turf Club will make a difference to many people in the Bega Valley. We will be delivering this food to a number of charities, including the Salvation Army, Women’s Refuge, and the St George Uniting Church Eden for people in need. Donating a can of food or two might seem like a small thing for one person to do, but multiply that donation by many people taking part and you have a “can do” movement, helping people in need.

Once again, thank you to the Sapphire Coast Turf Club, Sprout Eden, e2biPhonerepairs, Eden IGA, Pambula Post Office, Bendigo Bank Pambula Branch, Merimbula News Weekly Office, Merimbula Health and Fitness, Merimbula NAB, Goodyear Tyres Merimbula, Tathra Beachside, Bega PowerFM office, Bega Coles and most importantly, the donors.